There are reports of gunfire at Donetsk International Airport in eastern Ukraine. It comes after chocolate tycoon Petro Poroshenko was elected President, winning over 53% of the votes.

Around 60% turned out for the poll. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says there is now a great need for serious talks.

But Mr. Poroshenko - who is nicknamed the "chocolate king" - told reporters "there are no talks with terrorists".

"Their goal is to turn Donbas (east Ukraine) into Somalia. I will not let anyone do this to our state and I hope that Russia will support my approach".

Mr. Poroshenko has promised a dialogue with residents of eastern Ukraine and to guarantee their rights, including the right to speak Russian.

Russia has about 40,000 troops near the border with eastern Ukraine, close to where Ukraine's security forces and separatists have been engaged in low-level conflict.

Several towns and cities in east Ukraine have come under the control of separatists, who are seeking independence from Kiev.

Referendums held across two Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, declared illegal by the West and Kiev, voted by a huge majority to break away from the rest of the country.

Many have criticised the vote however, saying it was not organised in a way that provided for a fair and representative result.

Russia's refusal to condemn the separatists' actions led to the EU imposing further sanctions on key Russians and others supportive of Ukraine's breakaway regions.

Mr. Lavrov said Russia noted Mr. Poroshenko's remarks about the importance of normalising ties with Moscow and the need to establish a dialogue with eastern regions.

He added that "we don't need any mediators", in a reference to a possible role of the United States and the European Union in such talks.